Woman admits helping cover up murder

Friday

Feb 1, 2013 at 2:00 AMFeb 1, 2013 at 10:12 AM

YREKA, Calif. — The alleged accomplice of a Medford woman accused of murdering her husband in Siskiyou County last fall admitted in court Thursday to helping cover up the slaying and is cooperating with prosecutors in the case.

By MARK FREEMAN

YREKA, Calif. — The alleged accomplice of a Medford woman accused of murdering her husband in Siskiyou County last fall admitted in court Thursday to helping cover up the slaying and is cooperating with prosecutors in the case.

Amber Lubbers, 27, of Medford, pleaded guilty Thursday in Siskiyou County Superior Court to one count of being an accessory after the fact to the November murder of Michael Christopher MacCallum.

Her sentencing was scheduled for Feb. 28. She faces up to three years in prison under California law.

MacCallum's body was found Nov. 20 at the base of a steep cliff south of Applegate Lake and the California border. He died of a gunshot wound, police said. The main suspect in the case is MacCallum's wife, 26-year-old Patricia MacCallum, who is facing a first-degree murder charge. The pair were arrested Dec. 7 in Medford.

Lubbers and MacCallum appeared together Thursday in a preliminary hearing in which Lubbers entered her plea, Siskiyou County District Attorney Kirk Andrus said. Lubbers then testified against MacCallum in court, and she had previously made statements to investigators about her role in the alleged cover-up, Andrus said.

"She's given a tremendous amount of information about Ms. MacCallum," said Andrus, who declined to elaborate.

Andrus said his office has had no contact with MacCallum since she was arrested and sought legal counsel.

The hearing was abruptly delayed about 11:15 a.m. for a family emergency involving the judge in the case, Andrus said.

Siskiyou County Sheriff Jon Lopey has said investigators have a motive and evidence against MacCallum, but he has declined to reveal them.

Michael MacCallum worked in Medford as a driver for Checker Cab and as a bartender. The victim had celebrated his birthday Nov. 17, and had been on a camping trip in northern Siskiyou County near the Oregon border.

If convicted on the first-degree murder charge, Patricia MacCallum faces a sentence of 25 years to life under California law.

Reach reporter Mark Freeman at 541-776-4470, or email at mfreeman@mailtribune.com.